View source for Adrian Majstrovich

{{short description|New Zealand-Australian basketball player}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Adrian Majstrovich
| image = 
| position = [[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
| height_cm = 201
| weight_kg = 100
| league = 
| team = 
| number = 
| nationality = New Zealand / Australian
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1980|2|9}}
| birth_place = [[Tūrangi]], New Zealand
| high_school = [[Morley Senior High School|Morley Senior]]<br>([[Perth|Perth, Western Australia]])<br>[[UC Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra|Lake Ginninderra]]<br>([[Canberra]], [[Australian Capital Territory|ACT]])
| career_start = 1996
| career_end = 2016
| years1 = 1996
| team1 = [[East Perth Eagles]]
| years2 = 1997–1998
| team2 = [[Australian Institute of Sport#SEABL program|Australian Institute of Sport]]
| years3 = 1998–2000
| team3 = [[Perth Wildcats]]
| years4 = 1999
| team4 = East Perth Eagles
| years5 = 2001
| team5 = [[Brisbane Bullets]]
| years6 = 2001
| team6 = Launceston Tigers
| years7 = 2001–2002
| team7 = TUS Jena
| years8 = 2002–2003
| team8 = UBC St.Pölten
| years9 = 2003–2006
| team9 = [[Hawke's Bay Hawks]]
| years10 = 2004–2005
| team10 = Perth Wildcats
| years11 = 2005–2006
| team11 = [[New Zealand Breakers]]
| years12 = 2006–2007
| team12 = [[Adelaide 36ers]]
| years13 = 2007
| team13 = [[Wellington Saints]]
| years14 = 2008
| team14 = [[Auckland Stars]]
| years15 = 2008
| team15 = [[U-BT Cluj-Napoca|U-Mobitelco Cluj-Napoca]]
| years16 = 2009–2010
| team16 = [[Kalamunda Eastern Suns]]
| years17 = 2011–2012
| team17 = [[Perth Redbacks]]
| years18 = 2013
| team18 = [[Perry Lakes Hawks]]
| years19 = 2014
| team19 = [[Goldfields Giants]]
| years20 = 2015
| team20 = [[Southland Sharks]]
| years21 = 2016
| team21 = [[Stirling Senators]]
| highlights = 
* 2× [[List of New Zealand NBL champions|NZNBL champion]] (2006, 2015)
* [[List of NBL champions|NBL champion]] (2000)
* 2× [[State Basketball League All-Star Five|SBL All-Star Five]] (2009, 2010)
* 2× [[State Basketball League|SBL]] scoring champion (2010, 2011)
* [[New Zealand NBL Most Valuable Player Award|NZNBL MVP]] (2004)
* [[New Zealand NBL Rookie of the Year Award|NZNBL Rookie of the Year]] (2003)
}}

'''Adrian "A. J." Majstrovich''' (born 9 February 1980) is a New Zealand-Australian former professional basketball player. He spent the majority of his 20-year career playing in the [[National Basketball League (Australia)|Australian NBL]], [[National Basketball League (New Zealand)|New Zealand NBL]] and [[State Basketball League]] (SBL). He achieved the most success in New Zealand, winning two championships and earning the [[New Zealand NBL Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]] in 2003 and [[New Zealand NBL Most Valuable Player Award|league MVP]] in 2004.

==Early life and career==
Majstrovich was born in [[Tūrangi]], New Zealand, to Croatian parents, and was raised in [[Carnarvon, Western Australia]], on his grandparents' [[banana plantation]].<ref name=herald>[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=3569090 Basketball: Family feel for 'local' Aussie]</ref> He later moved to [[Perth]], where he attended [[Morley Senior High School]].<ref>[http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-6713-0-0-0&sID=124321&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=23018815 Want to know more about your SBL Players?]</ref> In 1996, he made his [[State Basketball League|SBL]] debut for the [[East Perth Eagles]].<ref name=eagles>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140224054437/http://www.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-sport/Majstrovich-shines-for-Suns/7541262/ Majstrovich shines for Suns]</ref><ref>[http://www.foxsportspulse.com/club_info.cgi?c=1-5011-83386-0-0&sID=226311 1996 – East Perth Eagles]</ref> In 1997, he moved to [[Canberra]] to attend the [[Australian Institute of Sport]] (AIS) and play for the program's [[Australian Institute of Sport#SEABL program|SEABL team]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Past Athletes|work=ausport.gov.au|url=http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/sports/basketball/athletes/past_athletes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212073754/http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/sports/basketball/athletes/past_athletes|archivedate=12 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also represented Australia at Under 20 level from 1996 to 1999, making him ineligible for the [[New Zealand men's national basketball team|Tall Blacks]].<ref name="herald" />

==Professional career==
===Early ANBL years (1998–2001)===
In 1998, Majstrovich joined the [[Perth Wildcats]] and made his [[National Basketball League (Australia)|Australian NBL]] debut. In 2000, he became an NBL champion, when the Wildcats defeated the [[Victoria Giants]] in the NBL Grand Final series. During the 1999 NBL off-season, he played for the [[East Perth Eagles]].<ref>[http://www.foxsportspulse.com/club_info.cgi?c=1-5011-83386-0-0&sID=226312 1999 – East Perth Eagles]</ref> During the [[2000–01 NBL season]], he joined the [[Brisbane Bullets]]<ref name="herald" /> and played four games.<ref name=stats>[http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=190394826&client=0-189-88250-125714-11145237 Player statistics for Adrian Majstrovich – NBL]</ref> Following the NBL season, he played for the Launceston Tigers in the [[SEABL]].<ref>[http://websites.sportstg.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=188582077&client=1-3363-126347-210261-16891396 Player statistics for Adrian Majstrovich – SEABL]</ref>

===First overseas stint (2001–2003)===
Between 2001 and 2003, he played one season in Germany for TUS Jena and one season in Austria for UBC St.Pölten.<ref name="herald" />

===Return to ANBL and first stint in NZNBL (2003–2008)===
In 2003, Majstrovich made his debut in the [[National Basketball League (New Zealand)|New Zealand NBL]] for the [[Hawke's Bay Hawks]]. He was named [[New Zealand NBL Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]] in his first season before going on to earn the [[New Zealand NBL Most Valuable Player Award|MVP award]] in 2004.<ref name=breakers05>[https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=10923954 BASKETBALL: Majstrovich to see more of Kiwi life]</ref> After returning to the Perth Wildcats for the [[2004–05 NBL season|2004–05 season]], Majstrovich returned to New Zealand in 2005 and played a third season for the Hawke's Bay Hawks, before joining the [[New Zealand Breakers]] for the [[2005–06 NBL season]].<ref name="breakers05" /><ref>[http://www.racingandsports.com.au/en/sports-basketball/nz-breakers-add-duo-to-nbl-list-story-64527 NZ Breakers add duo to NBL list]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050618211821/http://nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=wildcats_newsdisplay&aid=1859 Breakers close on Majstrovich?]</ref> However, his debut season with the Breakers was cut short by a season-ending leg injury.<ref>[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=10939253 Pedalling his way back to fitness]</ref>

After a championship-winning season with the Hawks in 2006,<ref>[https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=10941771 BASKETBALL: Hawks' Aussie supporters]</ref><ref>[https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=10946807 BASKETBALL: Hawks in the dark over Majstrovich's shock departure]</ref><ref>[https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=10946968 BASKETBALL: Majstrovich: Why I've left]</ref> Majstrovich joined the [[Adelaide 36ers]] for the [[2006–07 NBL season]].<ref>[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10381211 Basketball: Jets to fight Wellington for place in finals]</ref> In 2007, he joined the [[Wellington Saints]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140222032216/http://tvnz.co.nz/content/960922/2422039.html Majstrovich to join Saints]</ref> In 2008, he joined the [[Auckland Stars]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140222032213/http://tvnz.co.nz/content/1526769/2422039.xhtml Former MVP Majstrovich joins Stars]</ref>

===Romania (2008)===
Following his season with the Auckland Stars, Majstrovich moved to Romania to play for [[Tab Baldwin]] at [[U-BT Cluj-Napoca|U-Mobitelco Cluj-Napoca]].<ref>[https://romanialibera.ro/actualitate/proiecte-locale/tab-baldwin-aduce-jucatori-la-cluj-131076 Tab Baldwin aduce jucatori la Cluj] {{in lang|ro}}</ref> His stint ended in December 2008 after appearing in three [[Liga Națională (men's basketball)|league]] games and two [[EuroChallenge]] games.

===SBL and NZNBL (2009–2016)===
[[File:Adrian Majstovich trophy.jpg|thumb|upright|Majstrovich's 2009 All-Star Team trophy]]
In 2009, Majstrovich returned to Perth and joined the [[Kalamunda Eastern Suns]] of the State Basketball League.<ref>[http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-5011-0-0-0&sID=78732&articleID=8485369&news_task=DETAIL Suns Sign Majstrovich]</ref> He continued on with the Suns in 2010.<ref name="eagles" /> In 2011 and 2012, he played for the [[Perth Redbacks]], and in 2013, he played for the [[Perry Lakes Hawks]].

For the 2014 season, Majstrovich initially joined the [[Nelson Giants]] in New Zealand,<ref name=giants1>[http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/sport/9779143/Welcome-back-Majstrovich/ Welcome back, Majstrovich]</ref> but a foot injury ruled him for the duration of the campaign.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140407094327/http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/sport/9886912/Vukona-answers-the-Giants-call Vukona answers the Giants' call]</ref><ref name=giants2>[http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/sport/10022262/Injury-plagued-Majstrovich-out Injury-plagued Majstrovich out]</ref> In June 2014, he moved to Kalgoorlie and joined the [[Goldfields Giants]] for the rest of the [[2014 State Basketball League season|2014 SBL season]].<ref>[http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-5011-0-0-0&sID=78732&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=30011280 Majstrovich returns; Cougars, Senators sweat on Wolves (Week 13 Men's SBL Preview)]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140814010536/https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/24196529/giants-lack-bite-against-wolves/ Giants lack bite against Wolves]</ref>

In 2015, Majstrovich returned to New Zealand and helped the [[Southland Sharks]] win the NBL championship.<ref>[http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/sport/63995561/Southland-Sharks-sign-former-Breaker-A-J-Majstrovich Southland Sharks sign former Breaker A J Majstrovich]</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hyslop|first=Liam|title=Southland Sharks beat Wellington Saints in tense NBL final|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/69970506/southland-sharks-beat-wellington-saints-in-tense-nbl-final|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=5 July 2015|accessdate=5 July 2015}}</ref>

In 2016, Majstrovich played one final season in the SBL, this time with the [[Stirling Senators]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160306140057/http://www.stirlingsenators.com.au/latest-news-inner?newsid=NTc%3D AJ signs with Senators]</ref><ref>[http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-5011-0-0-0&sID=78732&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=53504062 Senators look to make noise despite tough preparation]</ref>

==Personal==
Majstrovich is the son of Maja and Ozren,<ref name="herald" /> and has an older brother named Ivan.<ref name="herald" /> Majstrovich is married to wife Jaime.<ref name="giants1" />

In 2009, Majstrovich returned to Perth to study for a career as a civil draughtsman.<ref name="giants1" /><ref name="giants2" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography|Sports}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20010629153207/http://www.nbl.com.au/players_details/0,2725,63_history,FF.htm ANBL profile]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060824051711/http://www.basketball.org.nz/index.cgi?sID=43&intArticleID=1430&det=1 Basketball New Zealand profile]
*[http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=190394826&client=0-189-88250-125714-11145237 ANBL stats]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20141210113820/http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?client=1-5011-83384-299006-20469272&sID=&action=PSTATS&pID=189686599 SBL stats]

{{Perth Wildcats 1999–2000 NBL champions}}
{{New Zealand NBL MVPs}}
{{New Zealand NBL Kiwi MVPs}}
{{New Zealand NBL Most Outstanding Forwards}}
{{New Zealand NBL Most Outstanding Kiwi Forward/Centres}}
{{New Zealand NBL Rookies of the Year}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Majstrovich, Adrian}}
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Adelaide 36ers players]]
[[Category:Auckland Stars players]]
[[Category:Brisbane Bullets players]]
[[Category:Forwards (basketball)]]
[[Category:Hawke's Bay Hawks players]]
[[Category:New Zealand Breakers players]]
[[Category:New Zealand expatriate basketball people in Romania]]
[[Category:New Zealand men's basketball players]]
[[Category:New Zealand people of Croatian descent]]
[[Category:People from Tūrangi]]
[[Category:Perth Wildcats players]]
[[Category:Southland Sharks players]]
[[Category:U-BT Cluj-Napoca players]]
[[Category:Wellington Saints players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Waikato]]
[[Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen]]